[for.mer] adj [ME, fr. forme first, fr. OE forma--more at foremost] (12c) 1 a: coming before in time b: of, relating to, or occurring in the past "~ correspondence"
2: preceding in place or arrangement: foregoing "~ part of the chapter"
3: first in order of two or more things cited or understood "of the two given, the ~ spelling is more common" "of the two spellings, the ~ is more common"
4: having been previously: onetime "a ~ athlete" syn see preceding
[2]form.er n (14c) 1: one that forms
2. chiefly Brit: a member of a school form--usu. used in combination "sixth ~"